Running board



H. T. THOMAS.

RUNNING BOARD.

APPUCATION men SEPT.24, um.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

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H. T. THOMAS.

RUNNING BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED sawnu, x911.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

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RUNNING BOAR-D.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

Application filed September 24, 1917. Serial No. 192 836 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE T. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, county of Ingham, State of Michian, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Running Boards, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to running boards for automobiles and objects of my improvements are to provide a running board that shall be free from warping and splitting, that shall be specially strong, of light weight, and economical to construct.

I attain these objects in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whic Figure 1 is a plan view of a running board embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on the line CC Figure 4 is a cross section of the runnlng board through one of the cross pieces as indicated by the line DD Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a disassembled detail sectional view of a portion of the running board.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a running boiard adapted to a frame having a curved s1 e.

Figure 7 is a cross section showing a modified form of a running board embodying my invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 9 is a sectional detail showing a modified construction, and

Figure 10 is a cross sectional detail showing a further modification.

a indicates the running board as a whole, this is made of thin sheet metal. The metal of the board is pressed out to form depressions a which constitute longitudinal grooves spaced from each other and approximately parallel. These grooves are shown in the drawings approximately rectangular in section. Into the grooves a are closely fitted strips of wood which completely fill the groove and extend to or above the surface of the running board.

Cross pieces 0 which may be of an inverted U-shape, as shown, extend parallel to each other and at intervals transversely across the running boards and are secured to the bottoms of the depressions as.

At one end of the running board I provide a cross piece 0 having u on one edge a depending flange c and attii. other edge an upwardly extending flange '0 which lat: ter comes against the endot the running board.

0* are apertures formedin the cross pieces 0, having a narrow off-set portion, these apertures are adapted to pass over. the seen ipg lugs on the supportingbrackets and to lock the board to said lugs.

If it is desired to adapt the running board to a frame having a curved side, one side of the running board is shape to corre: spond to the side of the frame and the groove a is formed alon the; curved; edge thereof and the filling strip of Weed isbent and forced into the groove as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. a

Instead of three grooves or depressions a? as shown in F gure. 1 a greater number, as for instance six, may be used 1 shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this case the depressions. ma e 3 less do it and Woo strips may exten slightl y above t e surface of the running board a to form a convenient foot hold. If desired a strip of linoleum may be secured by tacking through the same into the wooden strips, as shown in Figure 9, and a corner 0? may be secured by screws d extending through the same and into a wood strip 6 to act as a protection to the outer edge of the board.

While it is contemplated that the metal of the board should be formed of one piece, it is not necessary that it should be so formed but it may be formed of a plurality of pieces in which case the turned-in flanges at the edge of each piece may overlap to form the bottom of a depression a as shown in Figure 10. and the securing nail b may pass through both of said flanges and into the wood.

The above construction forms a very rigid foot board. is light in weight and easy to construct. The upper surface. if uncovered, presents an ornamental appearance alternating with the surface of wood of perhaps the natural color and a surface of enameled steel. The wood affords a firm foot hold.

If it is desired to cover the foot board with linoleum and protect the outer edge with an angle strip, this may be done as shown in Figure 9, the Wood strips forming a convenient hold for the securing screws or nails. Cross pieces 0 secured to the lower portions of the depressions a and themselves locked tothe supporting bracket-s resist any forces tending to bendthe running board on a longitudinal line intermediate its edgesv Various modifications of my invention are possible without departing from the scope thereof.

The fillers instead of being single strips of: Wood ma be built up of several strips which permits overlapping the grain and strengthening the wood; also of modifying the colorto introduce a more pleasing et feet; Additional foothold may be secured with additional verticalstrength by incor pofalfin "iii",the filler strips one or more. strips 6 m'etal'as shown in Figure 10 which strips of metal ma be serrated along their top' ed ges'." The a ditional Weight support ing strength added by these vertical metal strips and by the overlapping flanges secured to the bottom of the Wood and to each other, permitsa very considerable reduction ifithdtv'eight and strength of the sheet metal forming the board. If theboard is covered. es'with linoleum, Water is not likely to reach the depressions but if uncovered there is dan er of the grooves retaining water if the fioardi's formed in one piece the depressions should be perforated at frequent intervals' as shown and indicated by the refer ence character w for drainage purposes. If the depressions are formed by complementary depressed portions the water can easily escape.

l'Vhile wood is the preferred material for filling purposes because of its strength, durability, color and cost, an non-resonant firm filling material which will )reserve the shape of the depression and hue insure strength as well as 'deaden resonance will FQI'VB.

While cross pieces 0 are used to provide attachment between the board and its supporting brackets the fenders may be attached to the ends 'of the board in the usual manner without any additional trouble. While. in Figure 9 the angle strip d is shown as retainer for a coverin e this strip'may he of somewhat diiferent shape and used to finish and strengthen the outer edge of the oard in case the cover is not used.

\Vhat I claim is:

l. A running board of sheet metal having a plurality of pieceshaving complementary joining edges to form a groove, a nonresonant filler for said groove, and a strengthening foot-holding metal strip forming a part of said filler.

2. A running board of sheet metal having a plurality'of longitudinal depressions therein, filler strips of non-resonant mate rial and metal in said depressions and drainage openings at the bottom of said depressions.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

HORACE T. THOMAS. 

